The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-15


reason that there is such meagre faith
in prayer is that people have learned to
pray without any clear idea of what
prayer is, what the needs of the soul
are, or by what reasonable means they
may be met.
Many people have learned to pray as
a fretful child would tease its mother;
sort of qualification to an irritable
nature, not that there are clearly de-
fined needs or real expectation of re-
Spouse. In no other matters do people
proceed so irregularly and unwisely as
in being religious. A business project
calls for clear and well defined ideas;
the capital, aim and prospect are
weighed. But men plunge into religion
with the most vague conceptions of
methods and accomplishments, as if it
were matter in which system was
not needed. Therefore, the religious
life is too often but tumble of incon-
sistencies, of overweight zeal for a
season, followed by depression, doubt
and very low ebb of spiritual life.
We should be able to give a reason
for the hope that is within; reason
for our religion; and use reason when
we pray. To make life truly religious
we need more than all else sense of
the divine presence, consciousness of
the ne arness of God who is good, and
who has deep and tender interest in
our welfare. Feeling this, we may be
fortified against many ills of life which
otherwise would sweep over the soul
with destroying power. We need pro-
lection. What soul does not feel that
without some infinite Helper, life with
its burdens OF sorrow, its constant strug-
giles and strange uncertainties, is too
much to bear? Every heart at some time
cries out from its most secret depths,
Lord, save, or perish" 1 state it as
my most sincere conviction (gained by
years of thought, study and experience)
that the only way to gain and hold a
living faith in a living God, faith
that will strengthen and warm the heart
amid the stern realities of life, and en-
able it to endure all things, is to seek
often with uplifted soul, that God who
is not far away from every one of
us. My friends, L do not say this be-
cause it is the fashion to say such
things in the pulpit. 1t is too sacred
matter to speak Of with insincerity,
or in can't phrase. If you stumble over
the question, ''How can God answer
prayer" a question which none of us
can answer with authority, it is COM
fort worth all the world, to feel assured
that he does respond to the uplifted
heart. The philosophy as to how, is
worth less than the fact of which we
may have knowledge; each heart may
have an experience, which is the best
possible test. We do not understand
just how we find response in the kim
dred heart, how the soul of our friend
comes into communion with our own,
and both are strengthened and rendered
happy.
The sweet interchange of love and
sympathy among congenial souls which
renders life rich and beautiful, is
brought about by seeking and finding,
or by prayer and response. These
human sympathies are steps leading
US toward the divine mind, and are
exceedingly helpful to a religious life.
Realizing this, we form our religious
organizations and hold our religious
meetings, that coming together and
joining as of one mind in religious
service we are made happier; not that
in SO doing we are performing duty
which we owe to God, to worship him
in form and manner; that would be
an Improbable service. God has no
need that we should worship him in
temples made with hands, but every
means by which we may become en-
rapport, one with the other, with Christ
and the angel world, every means
by which human souls can blend and
harmonic is an aid toward perfect
salvation. This, 1 apprehend, is the
divine mission Of prayer; to attract and
harmonic all spirits under the sway of
the eternal spirit. 1t is a beautiful
thought that the spirits of those we
call dead, as we'll as the spirit of the
loving Christ, and the mighty spirit of
God, are cognizant of our prayers, and
that sometimes our loved ones are near,
inspiring to prayer and leading US by
their clinging affection toward the bet
ter home.
May it not be possible that all the
way from our home in earth to the
throne of the eternal, is chain of love,
each link soul which relates to some
other soul, and so through the heavenly
hosts to the infinite Spirit. Who has
not friend on the other side of the
river that sometimes draws near, even
when God seems far away? Hearts that
have little helpful faith in God often
feel linked to the spiritual life by the
lingering love of dear one who has
passed into the mysteries.
Once 1 conversed with lady in great
trouble of mind, who said, 81 cannot
find God, but often pray to my daugh-
for uhn vvaa nv hoart,a idol lint hos